The Rare Old Times

[Verse 1] Raised on songs and stories heroes of renown the passing tales and glories that once was Dublin Town The hallowed halls and houses the haunting children’s rhymes that once was Dublin City in the rare old times. [Chorus] Ring a ring a rosy as the light declines I’ll remember Dublin City in the rare old times. [Verse 2] My name it is Sean Dempsey as Dublin as can be Born hard and late in Pimlico in a house that ceased to be By trade I was a cooper lost out to redundancy Like my house that fell to progress my trades a memory. And I courted Peggy Dignan as pretty as you please A rogue and child of Mary from the rebel Liberties I lost her to a student chap with skin as black as coal When he took her off to Birmingham she took away my soul. [Chorus] Ring a ring a rosy as the light declines I’ll remember Dublin City in the rare old times. [Verse 3] The years have made me bitter the gargle dims my brain ’Cause Dublin keeps on changing and nothing seems the sane. The Pillar and the Met. have gone the Royal long since pulled down As the grey unyielding concrete makes a city of my town. [Chorus] Ring a ring a rosy as the light declines I’ll remember Dublin City in the rare old times. [Verse 4] Fare thee well sweet Anna Liffey I can no longer stay And watch the new glass cages that spring up along the Quay My mind’s too full of memories to old to hear new chimes I’m part of what was Dublin in the rare old times. [Chorus] Ring a ring a rosy as the light declines I’ll remember Dublin City in the rare old times. Ring a ring a rosy as the light declines I’ll remember Dublin City in the rare old times.